BETHESDA, Md. — To coincide with Marriott’s Global Travel Day on Oct. 14, and in celebration of the historic acquisition of Starwood by Marriott International, Marriott Rewards has just released its Global Travel Tracker, a new survey that illustrates trends among travellers worldwide.
More than 6,600 travellers in 14 international cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC, Toronto, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai and Munich participated in the online survey that show trends in traveler’s habits on the road.
“It’s fascinating to see that the habits formed and stories gathered might be personal in nature, but universal in experience,” said Karin Timpone, Global Marketing Officer, Marriott International. “Global Travel Day celebrates the merger of Marriott and Starwood and the linking of our loyalty programs, so now travelers everywhere can find the perfect hotel almost anywhere around the world.”
According to the study, travellers prefer to stay connected with work via email, with less than half those surveyed (47%) being able to completely disconnect while on vacation. The majority of guests get their exercise by walking around town (56%), and an overwhelming number (86%) enjoy relaxing at the spa. Women are more content to skip exercise and lounge by the pool (27% over 17%) when given the option of exercising.
When it comes to favourite travel companions, 60% of all travellers would choose their spouse/significant other or their family. And as for biggest vacation indulgence, nearly one-third (30%) of travellers cited “not making the bed or leaving their hotel room a mess.”
The findings also reveal that travelers in certain cities return to work less stressed that others. Residents of Tokyo are most stressed returning to work after vacation, with 35% of respondents reporting some levels of stress. Residents of Mexico City reported the lowest levels of stress on return from vacation at just 4%.